Merry Christmas!!!

Oh Christmas...

If you follow me on Twitter or are my Facebook friend, I'm sure you know very well how lonely I have been the last two weeks! Since his final day of Finals, Tony has been working like crazy every single night working 9 hour days and leaving a very lonely and sad Diamend home alone and not feeling very festive :(

So, first, I apoligize for my pathetic tweets and status updates and how depressing (and probably annoying) I must sound! Sorry! Second, with my state of lonely un-festiveness - I cannot WAIT to go home in only 2 DAYS!!

Only today and tomorrow in the office and Wednesday we get to hit the road to Illinois!!! While I am not looking forward to the weather I've been hearing about up there (especially since it is supposed to get up to 70 today in Texas) I am looking forward to a very festive, joyful, family filled white Christmas!!!

We miss our family and friends very much and I, for one, am very excited to not be lonely and my hubby forced to be stuck in a car with me for 12 hours! ;)

See you all soon!!
Diamend

Final Grade Update

Okay I got them all in...if you saw the previous post you know how God has blessed this semester. In my New Testament class i received an A. I did well enough on the final and the last bit of notes to push me from an 88% to a 91% for a final grade! God has truly blessed us in many ways this semester! And YOU have also been an amazing blessing! Knowing that you are praying and thinking of us is a wonderful feeling. We would not have gotten this far without both God and your support!

Diamend will be posting very soon with some pictures of what we have been up to! But as for me, I've been working like crazy trying to help more and more with finances since I am out of school until the 14th. Apple is a great place to work and a great company to allow me to come home for BOTH Thanksgiving and Christmas! Just another example of God's blessing and provision in our lives.

Well, I need to get going we are headed to Diamend's boss's graduation in Dallas, she's now a Dr.! Go Emily! So until next time! Love, peace, and chicken grease!

Tony B!

One Down...

Well the first semester is over and boy did I feel it! Jumping back into school was much harder than I thought it would be, but we have certainly been blessed these last months. God has encouraged us and shown His provision, which reassures us that this is exactly where we are supposed to be. I really enjoyed my classes this semester and wanted to take the time and space to tell you, briefly, some of the interesting things I learned from each class.

GREEK
In Greek I learned that the original text does reveal new truths and meanings to many passages. However, the translations that we use are very close to the original. Also in the original Greek there were no spaces, punctuation, and everything was in all caps. So, "GODISNOWHERE" could read "GOD IS NO WHERE" or "GOD IS NOW HERE". So the original translators had some work.

NEW TESTAMENT I
I learned lots of things and one that struck me was that the majority of the New Testament is taken or is referencing the Old Testament. Therefore, the Old is just as important as the New!

MINISTERING TO FAMILIES WITH TEENS
This class really changed the way I am going to do youth ministry. I found the importance of parents within the youth group. As well as the importance of ministering TO families not just with the students! You will hear much more about this is the future!

MINISTRY OF EDUCATION
This class taught me the importance of the discipleship that goes on within the church. The Sunday School material should not just be selected out of a magazine, it should be selected for a purpose! A purpose that meets a goal for each group not the entire mass church body.


I stated earlier in past blogs that I wanted to share my grades with you because you are just as much apart of these classes as I am. You are praying for me, sending us gifts, and much more so that I can do these things. So I am going to post my final semester grades, not to boast or brag, but to stay accountable. I feel that many have sacrificed for us to be hear and you deserve to know if that sacrifice is paying off.


Greek - B +
Ministry of Education - A
Ministering to Families with Teens - A
New Testament I - (Don't Know Yet)
Spiritual Formations - A


Thank you ALL once again for all you do and please leave a comment so that we can pray for you and know who is visiting the blog! Diamend will have many pictures to come! We can't wait to see you all when we are home for Christmas! God Bless!!


With Great Thanks,
Tony Bianco

I LOVE Christmas!

Christmas! My favorite time of the year!

· Brightly wrapped presents
· Houses draped in lights
· The smell of cinnamon and pine
· Secret shopping trips
· Children whispering and giggling
· Old movies that make me laugh and cry
· Phone calls from friends miles away
· Chocolate covered cherries.
· Carolers

But there is something more important to it all! My devotional reminded me of that this morning:

Something important is happening, a time of celebration. The literal meaning of "Christmas" is "Christ's Mass", the celebration of Christ. We all want a joy-filled Christmas that truly celebrates Christ. Yet, the holiday season often leaves us with very little joy and a feeling of emptiness. What is the secret to a merry Christmas?

I believe that the secret to the celebration of Christmas is found in giving. Maybe we are giving the wrong gifts. Maybe we are giving gifts to the wrong people. Maybe we are not receiving the right gifts. Over the next two days, we will look at the truths surrounding a Christmas that is filled with joy and Christ Himself.
The first truth is that we must receive God's gift to us.

Luke 2:8-13 "There were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them; and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger."

God gave the greatest gift of all when He gave Jesus, a gift that only eternity can measure. Across the manger is a shadow of the cross and an empty tomb. The very heart of Christmas can be found in a familiar verse, a verse we seldom associate with the Christmas season.

John 3:16 "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son."

Christmas is not a date on the calendar but a way of life. Like the innkeeper who turned away Mary and Joseph, we are often guilty of posting a sign across the entrance of our heart and life that reads, "No room!" We can participate in every festivity of the Christmas season, but until we receive the gift of Jesus Christ, we will never truly experience Christmas.

To have a Christ-centered Christmas, we must not only recognize Him as the center of a season, but the center of our entire life as well - every part of it - every day of the year. By human standards, Jesus could and should have been born in a palace, a mansion fit for the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. But He came to a manger, and His birth was announced by shepherds instead of Kings; the greatest of all miracles - in the midst of total simplicity. Even today, this extraordinary Jesus comes to us in the midst of our ordinary lives. He comes to be one of us.

Think back to past Christmas holidays. Was Jesus the center of the celebration? If not, what was the focus of each holiday celebration? Evaluate past Christmases in light of your faith. If you are a Christian, evaluate past Christmases in light of its true meaning. What changes will you make this year to have a joy-filled Christmas?

PS - If you (girls) are looking for a great devotional, check this one out! Girlfriends in God at http://www.crosswalkmail.com/



Blessings,
Diamend

Festivities

With Christmas only 2 weeks away TODAY, there are tons of fun festivities leading up to it! We've had a really great couple of weeks here in Texas and enjoying our friends and the fun that the holidays brings! Tony has successfully finished his very first semester at seminary and I am soo proud of him and glad to have him all to myself until classes start again!! (I'll let him tell you how the semester ended!)

I though I'd just leave you with a few pics of the latest festivities:

Our staff week at work was full of Christmas Cheer!

Wednesday our group of friends that we get together for Thur/Fri night dinners and date nights had a Christmas party! The "Garrett Manor" Christmas Party:

Last night our dear friends the Toller's came over! It was SOO nice to catch up and hang out with them! Paula-Beth even taught me how to knit!

It has been a fun, festive couple of weeks! Tomorrow we are going with a group of friends to the Gaylord Texan ICE! It is this huge "ice city" full with sculptures and cool stuff; this year's theme is the Grinch! They keep it at 9 degrees and give you parkas to wear walking through it! It sounds like a lot of fun and we are excited! I'll have pics later in the weekend of all the cool ice sculptures and us bundles up!

While we are having fun with our new friends and all the festivites that we are finding here in Texas - we do miss our friends and family back home and cannot WAIT to come back home in only 12 DAYS!!!!

Love ya!

Diamend

Are you ready for Christmas?

I recieved my weekly email devotional today that was truly inspiring and convicting for me, and really thought that my family and friends could really get something from it:

It’s a famous line that you hear with increasing frequency as the days get shorter and the 25th of December draws closer. Christmas is an important time and we want everything to be just right. But long before we were thinking about preparing for Christmas, God had a plan to prepare us.

Before the Messiah was born, before the angel announced to Mary that she had found favor with God, before the Holy Spirit conceived a child within her, we are told the story of John the Baptist.

His birth was foretold by an angel. His father was struck mute because of his unbelief. His conception was miraculous in the sense that his parents were both well along in years and his mother was barren, and he was filled with the Holy Spirit from birth. All these details were orchestrated by God because He had a unique task for John.

Listen to what the angel prophesied about John: “Many of the people of Israel will he bring back to the Lord their God. And he will go on before the Lord, in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers to their children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous – to make ready a people prepared for the Lord” (Luke 1:16, 17, NIV).

John’s role in God’s great story was to make ready a people prepared for the Lord. His calling was to help people get ready. They were not supposed to be ready to simply celebrate the coming of the Messiah but ready to receive the Messiah as Lord.
Are you ready? Has your disobedient heart been turned to the wisdom of the righteous? Have you acknowledged your failings and accepted the salvation Jesus offers? Are you ready for the day when Jesus will return?

Our gracious God and Savior, turn my heart back to You. I want my heart to be ready for You.

Question, What does being ready for the Messiah mean to you? How does this affect how you look at getting ready for Christmas?

Blessings,
Diamend

Thanksgiving!

We had an absolutely amazing trip home to Illinois!! It was sooo great to see all of our family and friends and worship with our church again!! We miss you guys already and cannot WAIT to go back for Christmas break in just 4 weeks!!

I will just leave you with LOTS of pics from the weekend:

Me and Alicia (Tony's sister)

Isn't he handsome!?

Koen and Uncle Tony hanging out

Koen learning to play guitar with Alicia

My mom, me and my sister, Stephanie - obviously having WAY too much fun!

The girls - Ginger and Lacie

Alicia and Lacie cuddling on the couch

Grandma and my momma-in-love, Amy!

And of course, I have to end this post with the cutest nephew in the world!! Isn't he adorable? And getting sooo big!

Thank you all for your prayers as we travel!!

Blessings, Diamend

HOME

We are hitting the road to Illinois early this morining!! We cannot wait to see our family and friends and our church on Sunday!! We have left all of Sunday open to anyone at Grace for lunch youth group!! Can't wait to see you all!!

Please keep us in your prayers as we travel:
- safety on the road
- finances with high gas prices and little budget ;(

We will update when we get home with pics!! We will be traveling back home to Texas on Monday!

Blessings!

Almost HOME!!!

Only 2 more days and we get to go HOME!!! We are getting sooo excited and anxious to hit the road early Wednesday morning and see/hug all our friends and family!!! 2. MORE. DAYS!!!

In the meantime... We have been busy! Which is probably a good thing, so as to keep our minds from driving us crazy about going home! Last week was the Baptsit General Convention of Texas's Annual Meeting in Houston. Tony and I flew to Houston last Sunday, Tony came home Monday night (b/c he had class) and I finally got home Wednesday! It was a lot of work, but lots of fun - I really enjoy my work here!

Do ya'll remember me telling you about Metochai at SWBTS? (The students' wives fellowship that meets once a month for bible study and fellowship) Well, last Thursday we had our last Metochai meeting of 2009! Along with the meeting we had a home business fair! I have started my own little home business "Scrapbooker for HIRE" so I had my very own booth at the fair! I was able to showcase my scrabooks and what I can do for others - basically it is me scrapbooking for those who don't have time/talent to do their own for money$$. So I'm hoping that this opened up some doors and I can start getting to work soon!

**PS. If you would like to hire me (hint hint) let me know and I'll send you my list of services and prices!!

Now to the good stuff: We are leaving in 2 DAYS to go home to Illinois for Thanksgiving!!! (WOOHOO!) So, when we come home after driving and unpacking, the last thing I want to do is mess with putting up a tree! So we put our Christmas stuff up this weekend, and we'll take it down before we go home again for Christmas!

Prayer requests:

- Safety as we travel

- Finances to get us through traveling

Blessings,

Diamend

Long Time

Well let me see if I remember how to do this...since I haven't blogged for almost 2 months I think. But I've been in school so I have an excuse. ;-) The semester is about over for me. I've got this week and then 2 days. Last bits of homework and reading, plus finals, are all I have left for the year. It has been really great and God has taught me some great things through this first semester.

You may be asking yourself, "Self, why is Tony posting at 10:30 on a school night?" I'm sure Diamend is thinking the same thing, but I just got back from Houston where Diamend is and I was for the BGCT's Annual Meeting. It was really great to see and meet some of the leaders in Texas. I would be asleep, however, I'm missing my wife and I thought this would be a great way to think of her.

Diamend and I are very excited about coming home for Thanksgiving, so if you're going to be around look for us because we will be there! We are looking forward to seeing family and friends!

Apple is going great! The job is very fun and the people are great too! I had training last week but that is all I can say about that. Just know that Apple is a wonderful company to work for!

Please continue to pray for us! And let us pray for you! We have still be struggling financially since I haven't yet gotten paid from my part-time job, and with traveling home, we have seen some extra costs that we probably can't afford but we can't afford not too! We love ya'll too much! Please comment on how we can pray for you and if there is anything new!

We love you all and thank you for always being a blessing in our lives!

Much Love,

Tony

Welcome to November!

FIRST - I need to give some huge props to our dear friend Logan who made our new and awesome blog banner!!! Isn't it cool?! Make sure you tell him and encourage him today/this week!

I cannot believe that it has been a week since we've last posted AND it is already November!? Time is flying! Which is great, because it is only 3 WEEKS til we get to visit home!!

Last weekend was fun and relaxing (much needed)! We went to a haunted house (run by the boy scouts association) with some friends and had fun laughing (fake laughing for me) at the boy scouts trying (succeeding for me) to be scary! :)

We also were tremendously blessed by God and friends this weekend! Usually, I don't like to tell of specifics of finances, but this was such an amazing God thing - I have to share:

Friday was payday for me and it was smaller than usual because it had those 2 days that I didn't work because of my back on it and didn't have any sick/vacation days. Friday is also the day that rent is due and both our car payments are due.... Needless to say I did some major freaking out to see that my little check was not enough to cover the expenses due on the 1st, let alone carry us through to next paycheck! Thanks to Dave Ramsey, we have our handy-dandy emergency savings fund.... So reluctantly, I had to transfer money out of our emergency fund and into our checking acct in order to cover our bills and have food for the next two weeks.

I felt defeated and lousy Friday night knowing that if we had a true crisis, we didn't have our full emergency fund. I began doubting and wondering how we were going to continue to survive like this for 3 more years!? Saturday, as we were walking out the door to Tony's flag football game, a fed-ex man came and brought us a package. One of Tony's school projects was to write a parent/student devotional and have our church evaluate it. So, we were expecting this package from our wonderful students and parents who graciously did the devotional!! What we were not expecting was a package FULL of cards!!

All the students stuffed cards in for us of love and encouragement, and I cried for forever reading them all over and over again! How can I be discouraged knowing how loved and blessed we are!? Not only that, but in another card was a check for the EXACT amount that I had to transfer! Isn't that COOL!!!? It is such a God thing! Grace- know that we love you and miss you and thank you soooo much for blessing and encouraging us!! You have no idea how much you mean to us!!! (PS - our entire fridge is covered in cards! I will take a pic of it and post it soon)

Everytime I feel doubt or frustration about what we are doing here, why are we here, etc.... God continually affirms me, us for our purpose here! I have never felt God so close to us, holding us up like ever before! it is really a cool feeling, although scary, not to know how this is all going to work out and know that there is nothing else we can do but totally and completely rely on God!

Thank you for all your love and support!!

Also, if I could leave you with some prayer requests and praises:

• Our 19.5 month old nephew, Koen, has the swine flu - pray for complete healing!
• Since Koen lives with my mom she is at a huge risk! After her cancer 7 years ago, she doesn't have much of an immune system; so it is easy for her to catch it and it could be fatal for her - pray for protection for her!
• Tony started his job at Apple this week and he loves it! He has decided to quit SixFlags to have more time working at Apple! - Praise God for providing!
• We are coming home in 3 WEEKS!!! - Pray for safe travel and PRAISE God!!!!

Until next time....

Blessings,

Diamend

Happy Halloween!!

Fall Fun

It was a great and/but busy weekend! Saturday Tony had to work 13 HOURS at SixFlags! Poor guy was sooo tired! :( But while he worked, I played! Our church we've been attending had their Fall Festival so I got to dress up and do trunk or treat!! My friend (also my director at work) and I did a joint theme with our trunks with a rainbow connecting them and she was a rain cloud while I was the sun! It was fun and as soon as I find pics I will post them!

Speaking of church - we had lunch with the pastor and his wife after church on Sunday and decided to make it our home church here! While Grace will always be our true home/family; this will be our home away from home for a while. So this coming Sunday we will be joining Northpointe Baptist Church in Arlington. It is a mission of FBC Arlingto n, so it is small and fairly new, but has many areas where we can get involved! If you want, check it out: http://www.mynorthpointe.org/.

Now onto another note - matters of the heart. I was reading a friend's blog the other day and she wrote exactly what had been on my heart and mind the last few days/week. It completely reiterated what I was thinking/praying....

I was driving to work this morning, thinking about a lot of things at once: plans for the day, everything that happened yesterday (praying it wouldn’t happen again), when the Lord broke in with a word for my heart and mind.

Do I truly believe the words of Colossians 1:15-18…that He alone is FULLNESS, He alone is above all, He alone is preeminence? If I do, then my perspective must change. I must take myself outside of every situation, and instead of looking at the way it effects me, look at how He is in control of it, and how it can bring Him glory and praise.

That, in every single way, is what it means to live loved…to live in the purpose for which He has created us. Everything must point back to Him. Everything must be for Him…for His glory, and His praise. All of a sudden, situations with unhappy people aren’t about me…all of a sudden I don’t have to lay my head on my desk in tears, cry to my husband, or ask my Mom for long distance hugs. Instead, I can rest in the fact that He is in complete sovereignty over all, HE has control over everything, and I can focus upon how I can respond to the situation to most bring Him glory and praise.

For everything that seems to be going wrong or not the way I want -- I need to turn the perspective around and see God, His sovereignty in everything! Any/All of our complaints of housing/the housing office/rules.... Praise HIM because we have a home! Any/All worries or fears about money how we are going to make the next bill or fill the fridge... Praise HIM because we have more than most! ALL my complaints of homesickness and loneliness... Praise HIM because I am not and will never be alone!

I pray today that you might see every situation as a new opportunity...an opportunity to make Him your Treasure above all else, to find Him in everything, to adore Him, to love Him...to live to the praise of the glory of who He is...I pray today, you might truly live loved.

Love you, praying for you!
Diamend

Having Fun in TX

So last weekend was fun and relaxing (for me)! Last Friday we had a group date nite and went to this place called Main Event. It has bowling (cheap), lazer tag, arcade, and billiards! So the 12 of us went bowling (except for me, I watched so that I wouldn't throw out my pathetically weak back!) We had a lot of fun! The boys had a lane and the girls had a lane. I have no idea who won, but it was lot of fun to watch and laugh with everyone and just escape from real-world stress!

Saturday Tony had his first day at Six Flags with four hours of training and had to miss his flag football game :( But I stayed loyal and went to support and cheer on Take it Easy!! The wives had a lot of fun on the sidelines cheering them on (and probably embarrassing them). : /

Isn't he cute!?!

Tony had to work at Six Flags from 8 AM to 8 PM on Sunday! :( I thought I was going to die of loneliness and boredom. But it wasn't too bad. I went to church (alone) which is always awkward if it is not your church family.. But had a good time and really enjoyed the sermon and worship. Then after a couple hours of contemplating just napping the rest of the day, a friend rescued me and the two of us had a pajama/chic flic party!! It was a great time of relaxation and good ole' girl fun!



And I have to share with you a little from my devotion today! Not only does it speak to all of us, but it tugs at my heart daily:

Philippians 4:6-7 Do not worry about anything. But pray and ask God for everything you need. And when you pray, always give thanks. And God's peace will keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. The peace that God gives is so great that we cannot understand it.

Stress management is a spiritual discipline that begins with diligent preparation in every area of life - mental, emotional, physical and spiritual. We must be ready to deal with stress before we are required to deal with stress. Dealing with stress is an ongoing, daily battle that will not end - this side of Heaven. In order to win that battle, we must be prepared. While there is no single secret to handling stress, God's Word is filled with many truths that can enable and empower us to deal with stress in a healthy, productive and God-honoring way.

In Psalm 23 He promises to be my shepherd, to lead and guide me, to provide my every need, to protect me from my enemies, to fill my heart with peace, and to stand between me and my greatest fears. God delivered a profound message when He sent His Son, Jesus Christ, to live among us each and every day. Jesus could have come to us in many ways but He chose to interrupt the ordinary with the extraordinary! Jesus could rightfully have been born in a palace. He was, after all, a King. Yet His life on earth began in a manger - a smelly, dusty, dirty and definitely common barn. The simplicity of His birth is one of His most precious gifts to us and a constant reminder that He really does care about everything that touches our lives - no matter how small or insignificant it may seem. God wants to be involved in the simple, ordinary happenings of each day.

While I cannot imagine my world without the presence and power of Jesus Christ, I am often guilty of living as if He does not exist. The result is a stress-filled life. A trial comes and I try to handle it on my own. Loneliness empties my heart and instead of reaching out to Him, I withdraw into the darkness where stress is waiting to fill that emptiness with anxiety and fear. Still, God is faithful. His peace is a soothing balm that leads me once again to the manger and away from stress. Emmanuel, God with me! He steps into my life and changes everything.

When He comes, stress is stripped away, tranquility given in its place.

Stress has no place in a heart that kneels before the manger. Stress is powerless in a life that continually seeks God and chooses to surrender to His love and care - like the sheep surrender to the love and care of their Shepherd. Psalm 23 describes the intimate, personal and trusting relationship between sheep and shepherd, between child and father, and is not only a beautiful portrait of God's complete and faithful provision, but an arsenal of stress-busting truths and principles that, when embraced and applied, will empower and equip us to live a life of peace and victory.

Stress is one of the enemy's favorite weapons to use against me. Especially in the time of our lives right now when I don't know how we are going to pay that next bill or fill up our gas tanks next or feeling lonely in my times of self pity feeling family-less and friend-less.... I constantly have to bring my heart and mind back to God.

How are you doing? Need help? Please pray for me, my attitude and heart, and us as a family trying to focus on Him and we promise to keep praying for you!! (REMEMBER: please leave a comment of your own personal prayer request so we can pray specifically for you!!)

Love you, Blessings,

Diamend

Mid Month

Well it's the middle of October already and there is still so much going on. I have had my final day of training at Six Flags and now I'm a Certified Ride Operator! I've been placed in the very last place I wanted to be and that is Looney Land. I get to operate SIX rides just for kids. I'm hoping to train out of Looney Land to a more grown up ride. But it is nice to have a job! I also have an interview tomorrow at the Apple store by TCU. And if for some reason that doesn't work out, I've got an invite for another interview at the Apple Store in Grapevine. Plus I've already interviewed at Zumiez and I think they liked me. But God is blessing and hopefully I will be able to balance 2 jobs and a full load of classes. If not, bye bye one job!

Thank you to everyone that is participating in my Student/Parent Devotionals! These are gonna help you get closer to Christ and your parents! If you have any questions mid-week about them please let me know! Remember ALL evaluation forms need to be turned back into Grace by Sunday October 25th!! I hope you enjoy them and the time you are getting to spend with your parents!

That is only one of my many projects due within the next 3 1/2 weeks! I could list them all and their entirety but it would be kind of confusing. Instead I'll tell you to pray for me and the work that I have ahead of me. And on that note I need to go. I've got research to do! Thanks again for all the prayers and please leave prayer requests, funny thoughts, or anything in the comment section!

Love Peace and Chicken Grease!

Tony B!

Being a Wife...

When we excitedly came here to seminary I made a goal. While Tony was studying and relishing in his calling at seminary; I wanted to learn also! I really wanted this time for me to really learn to be that godly woman and wife, that Proverbs 31 women that Tony and our ministry needs and deserves. I have a lot of fun getting life application through other women and my dear friends (seminary student wives) here; but I have also been really enjoying a daily wives' devotional. Today's devotion really tugged at my heart and convicted me to really begin being the best godly wife I can be and strive for a heart like Christ's!

So, every once and a while I'm going to share an exerpt from my devotion with you and hope to encourage someone out there! This devotional is from Wives of Faith:

A virtuous and worthy wife is a crowning joy to her husband, but she who makes him ashamed is as rottenness in his bones. - Proverbs 12:4

WOW! We are a HUGE influence in our husband's life. And, when we do not step into our roles as wives properly, we are a hindrance to our husbands. We are a bad influence. When we argue, fight, refuse to submit, boss, verbally bash privately or publicly, disrespect, and treat our husband in any way that is out of alignment with God's Word, we are hurting them. We are ROTTING THEIR BONES!

Hey, I did not write the Word. God inspired men what to write. God made sure that we all know everything we need to live happy, peaceful, and joy-filled lives. His Word does not adapt itself with the times. His Word does not change to fit our needs or the culture. It just IS. We all have choices...we can obey and be blessed or we can disobey and bring ruin to ourselves and our husbands.

Benefits of obedience:
- blessings
- allows God to WORK in our husband's life and heart
- helps our husband BE what God created him to be
- trains our children to be God obeyers NOT the cultures lackey

What does the fruit of Disobedience Bring?
- a ruined husband with rotten bones
- divorce
- hindrance or our husbands spiritual walk
- trains our children to life selfish worldy lives

To put it bluntly, we need to stop waiting for our husband's to fulfill OUR needs and OBEY what God wants US to do as wives. NOT based on the performance of our husbands. We need to DO what God says to do BECAUSE God SAID it and HE knows best!

When we let go of what we want and do what God wants, then and ONLY then will we truly have all that God wants us to have. Then and ONLY then will God actually have the room and ability to WORK in our husbands hearts and help our marriages.

We cannot go on expecting God to change them and we are not even willing to do what God has said to do!

Let's Pray;
Daddy God, please forgive me for being a selfish wife. Please forgive me for unrealistic expectations, and expecting my husband to fulfill my needs. Help me to turn to You and allow You to be my source for everything. Please forgive me for being stubborn and expecting my husband to change before I will. Help me to love him. Help me to obey You and what You want regardless of my husband's behavior. Help me to NOT be a rottenness to his bones. Help me to be a crowning joy to him that helps him to be all that You created him to be. Help me to love him unselfishly. Show me how I can honor, encourage, and delight my husband. Thank You for Your Word, Lord. Thank You for not changing with the times. Thank You for being the same yesterday, today, and forever. Help me to be consistent in all I do. Praise You Lord. You are worthy of my obedience, love, and worship. Thank You for loving me.
In Jesus Mighty Name.
Amen!

God Blesses

It has been quite a week/weekend! For of praises for God's blessings and personal dissapointments...

As Tony mentioned in the last post, I've had some huge back pain since Wednesday night- which kinda ruined my week. I wasn't able to move or do anything! However, Friday Tony came home to me (couch-ridden) with GREAT news of getting a job at Six Flags!!! I am so thrilled and proud of him! We also received a wonderful card from a couple of dear friends who blessed us! (Love you guys!) The only downfall of Friday is that we did not get to go be gouls at the haunted house like we had been excited about :( I was also out of work for two days without sick pay... so that will suck come next paycheck :(

Saturday, I forced myself to get up and go (very stiffly and painfully) to Tony's flag football game. Which I'm glad I did because he played awesomely (of course!)

I am back to work this week, still stiff and in pain- but definitely not as bad as last week! Thank you for all your prayers! And now, since I am a list person, I want to leave you with a list of praises of God's wonderful blessing (to prove how great He is!) and a list of prayer concerns so that we can continue partnering with each other in prayer! (Also- please leave your own prayer requests in our comments so we know how to specifically pray for you!!)

Praises:

• Tony got a job!
• We continue to get cards/notes/letters of encouragement and support from our friends back home!
• We are building wonderful friendships here!

Prayer:

• With Tony's job, comes a pricey uniform!
• Two days out of work w/o paid sick time coming on our next check (Although a praise that I get a steady check!)
• My back and my attitude that comes with it
• My lonliness when he works every weekend :(

We love you guys- miss you all back in Illinois (and Iowa!) and cannot wait to see you at Thanksgiving!!!! Please leave your own prayer requests so we can continue to pray specifically for you!!

Blessings,

Diamend

I Got A Job!!

The comic above is an example of something I was doing.

Yes, if you haven't heard I recently got a job. Ironically, it was at a place that I applied for after I had made my last post. I am a ride operator at Six Flags Over Texas in Arlington, TX. Arlington is about 20-25 minutes away and I'll be working there for the rest of the 2009 season and I'll also come back to work the 2010 season. Six Flags in Arlington is only closed one month out of the year. I know crazy right? So for now I will be able to work weekends only (since that's all they are open now)! The only down side to this job is that I must BUY my uniform. Polo shirts, pants, shorts, and a jacket. Plus, I have to have all white shoes. So these are some things that we were not planning on having to spend money so it's a little crazy. But we are sure that God will bless because I feel that He really wants me to work there. I was basically hired on the spot and it will give me plenty of opportunities to work with christians and non-christians. I will be able to show my faith through my actions each day I work! So THANK YOU all for the prayers and kind words! You are an encouragement and Diamend and I always look forward to hearing from you!

If you have been following us elsewhere you have heard that Diamend has hurt her back. She missed two days of work and has been basically stuck on the couch for the most part of the weekend. Every time I get determined to take her to the doctor, she's feeling better, so I wait and then it gets worse. It's been a crazy couple of days in that regard. But she is feeling much better today and she will be returning to work tomorrow. I even made her get out of the house to watch my football game yesterday and go to church today!

Football has been tons of fun for US. Yes, US! I have been enjoying getting together with a great group of guys and hanging out with them on and off the field. And Diamend and the "wives club" has formed and is the best cheerleaders any team has ever seen. I think they are gonna make t-shirts?! We have been blessed with great friends here to match those of you who are only here with us in spirit. And yes, you are! We think of you all so much and we can't wait to see you come Thanksgiving!

I want to end this post with a tiny message. I mean, I can't be in seminary and not preach sooner or later! But God is faithful. That is my encouraging word to you. He is. Diamend and I have had our troubles and times of when we were not sure how things were going to turn out. But it was until we literally came down here and knowingly saw that we could not do this on our own. If you know my amazing wife you know that she had everything planned to a T. But even all our planning told us that we needed God to do this. And we have. He has spoken to us and shown Himself to us in many different ways. Through encouraging words from others, to cards in the mail, to friends calling to just give a kind thought on a day when it was needed the most, to an amazing surprise from a relative of Brittney Spears, and so much more. So I want to leave you with two more things, if you think that God is nowhere to be found, stop, step back and look a little harder, because He is in more than we know. He is in everything, we just need to look! And the last thing is "For everyone who asks receives;he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened." -Luke 11:10

Thank you to all our readers and know that you are always on our minds! Thank you for all your prayers and we can't wait to see you again!

LPCG

Tony B

Good Times!

Well I haven't gotten called back about a job yet. Still praying that God will provide. I know He will it's just in His time not mine. But it is still hard to wait. Diamend and I did get some rather fun news. We will be able to volunteer at one of the "Top 5 Scariest Haunted Houses in the USA"!! It's a haunted house that takes all of their profits and donates them to charities. Last year 1.6 Million!! So Diamend and I will get to scare people for a good cause. We are excited about it and Diamend even more so...she is usually scared of Haunted Houses but since she will be on the other end it so it should be really fun! We'll be sure to put up pictures of us once we get into it!

I've decided that since God wants us to pray directly rather than indirectly I've compiled a list of all the places I've applied. If you could pray for a couple that would be great.

1. Southwestern

2. Apple

3. Best Buy

4. Blockbuster

5. Wal-Mart

6. Target

7. Buffalo Wild Wings

8. Starbucks x2

9. Office Max

10. Johnny Carino's

11. 99.5 The Wolf

12. The Italian Cafe

13. GameStop

14. Kohls

15. AnchorBlue

16. Zumiez x4

17. American Eagle

18. Fossil

19. Jamba Juice

20. Movie Tavern

21. Starplex Cinema

22. Main Event Entertainment

Thank you in advance!

I have really been enjoying my classes! Greek is a lot of fun but tons of memorization. I think I've re-learned English because of it! New Testament is good but it's got more reading than I've ever done before. But I've really felt that I need to share my final grades with you. Not because of pride, but because it will keep me accountable for what I'm doing here. Some of you reading this have supported me through prayers or finances. Therefore, I feel that you deserve to know what I receive and see how I am doing.

ATTENTION ALL GRACE SBC YOUTH!!!

Yes it is about time for you to help me out with one of my classes. You will be receiving a packet with instructions. But it is a 4 day quick bible study with your parents and it will be lots of fun. Trust me. It will bring you guys together and you will be able to learn from one another!

Well sorry for the long post. But know that we love you guys and we love reading your comments. Thanks for all the love and we can't wait to see you again!

LPCG

Tony

I love Fall!

I absolutely LOVE fall! So of courses, October 1st, I had to pull out my fall decor and make our little home festive!!

I don't know what it is about fall that makes me smile: brisk air (not in TX!) and the warm house full of fall fragrance, colorful leaves and warm colors, wearing sweaters!... there is just so much to love!

We had a very nice relaxing weekend! We didn't do too much and it was borefully uneventfull -- which was very much needed after the last weeks! :)

We got some great R&R with each other, a pajama movie night with friends, a Flag Football game in this lovely Texas weather and a great church service followed by lunch with friends at PF Changs!! It was just what we needed!

Of course, I can't have a blog post without bragging on my hubby and his Flag Football Skills!

And of course, only in Texas and only if you me could you possibly get sunburnt in October!! I will not be posting those pics ;)

We have really been enjoying updating the blog -- it gives me something to look forward to and excuses to take pics!!

October is a fun month for us also - because it is both our Momma's birthdays!! This Friday will be Tony's momma's 50th Birthday!!! And in exactly two weeks it will be my momma's 46th Birthday!! More updates on that to come!!

Until next time...

Blessings,

Diamend